The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-15
THE "INDEPENDENT.n
Fer the Pirst Time tn Fifteen Years
That Paper Mentions the Great
Preachers Name.

Fer the Fret Time tn FUTON Years
That Paper Mentions the Great
Preachers Name.
NKw YoRK, March IS For The flrst
time in fifteen years the Independent, OF
which Henry y. Bowen Is the editor
aud proprietor, Thu rsday made edito
rial references to Mr.. Beecher. In the
eii erial Mr.. Bowen said; "Mf.
Bsecher WAS the active editor OF the
Independent! for two years but for many
Yeas we published evtry week one 0.
his famous "Star Papers" or one Of
his sermons. In DO other man did
we take, in the days OF his well earned
fame, such Just and honest pride. Bat
there came time when the lndspend
ent turned from Mr.. Beecbe', and his
name has scarcely been mentioned by
us for fifteen years. The cause is
known by sll men; we will not repeat
it. he continues: SIN the dtsth Of
Henry Ward Beecher the American
pulpit loses one OF the greatest men
that ever stood 10 IL, snd perhaps
the greatest genius that America has
vet produced. 1t Ia difficult
TO tell 10 what his power did, or rather
did not cousist. IL was Ia his whole
nature. He was in every direction a
genius. In the fret place, he was q
man OF Infinite common sense. He
looked all round things and then hs
went TO the center OF them. He said
the ain, simple thing that everybody
would understand. He WAS not de-
ceived by the cant and conventional
ties that surround thought, an idea,
q duty or religious eervices but he
put his touch on the very core Of
things. He did not eek other men
whas was truth, bat he looked for him
self, and what he eaw he tod. 1t was
alwsys frasb, it WIS sometimes strange.
Thus he had originality. He borrowed
no Judgments or opini ms He did not
MUD II he CoLtradicted the world.
He had that supsib Coz fiience
that knew that his judgment might
be worth more than the in dgment Of
q million men. Because Lis head was
higher than soma OF other mems, his
v.slon apparently was further and
truer than that OF all the Iest. So he
spoke with authority that commanded
assent. Not that every tolclu ion
was true that 10 not given to man;
hut his conclusions carried almo
more than m rial weight. Then there
was his mighty enthusiasm.
How heroic WAS his defense of Amer
lea before 81 Q mad mobs of England in
the darkest hours Cf our civil war!
Not another man liv ng did or could
have done his service. And h. did It
all with such uncolsc Gus ca e, with
no apparent fort Of logic, rhetoric or
oratory. What ne said became evi
dent when he said 1t, with no compul
zion Of argumett and no illusion OF
elt queuce. With this was joined the
most exquisite poetic nature that
orator ever posse sed, Every phase
Of nature was beautiful to him.
Every trait In man WAS familiar TO
him. All this store Of insight was part
OF the material OF his thought. 1t wee
natural 10 him 10 speak in pictures.
He never overlaid All argument with
ornament. The ornam mt was ia the
Ggiment. The two were fused to-
gather The cory YVES in the gold.
Ths spirit wasin the wheels.
His impress is on the county ia re.
l'glous thought, In method OF preach.
inG, in all the social and political
prJgte s we have made. The couOtry
can never forget Henry Ward b echer,
1t has not yst recorded greater
name.
TO World Iepcrtsr MI Do wen said (:
"Whe.ht wriltsn by ma or not, l, a.
editor and proprietor Of the paper, am
willing to be fully responsible for its
publication. Mr.. Beecher's death is
not only great shook to d ooklyu, but
a ca. nifty to the whole C luntTy."